Portable Digital Piano for Portable Choir?

The choral program has grown at my elementary/middle school, but so have the instrumental music programs; I will very soon need to take my rehearsals outside the music room to accomodate the needs of the band and string ensembles. On the chance that we get moved to a room without a piano, I would like to purchase a digital piano for the choirs that will meet the following specifications:

1) Good sound

2) 88 weighted keys

3) Sustain Pedal (may be plugged in)

4) Highly portable

5) No required amp, preferrably

Does anyone have any recommendations? We start rehearsals soon, so I hope to buy something in the very near future.

I've just had to make this purchase and found that weighted keys will compromise "highly portable." I actually ended up buying a Casio px130 with weighted keys and I'm pretty happy with it. Got tired of lugging it around though, and rotated it to be a home practice keyboard. Bought a Piaggero (Yamaha) for work which does not have weighted keys (though they are "touch sensitive" and is okay sounding--not as good as the Casio but much lighter. (I actually bought the 61 key because I only need it to warm up my church choir on Sunday mornings--for regular rehearsal we use the church).

Now that I'm writing that, I'm realizing the Piaggero might only come in 61 and 75 keys, not sure. I also liked it for storage in my small office because it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles on the "dashboard," and thus takes up less space.

I'd recommend the Casio. Having a man's upper body strength might make the weight less of an issue for you. It's not terribly heavy, just enough to be wearying to do every day (I was bringing it in my car to work, too, because I needed it at home. Now that's not an issue.)

I purchased a Yamaha portable grand about 5 years ago and it has been a real trooper. The keys are weighted and it has a plug-in sustain pedal. It weighs about 45 pounds, but I bought a large soft sided case for it that fits the keyboard, folding stand and a folding stool. I strap the whole thing onto a folding wheeled dolly and haul it around that way. Usually, the older boys fight over who gets to pull it when we have to move.

I have a Casio Privia PX-150 at home. It came down to a choice between this and a Yamaha, and I was surprised to end up with a "Casio keyboard" (which still reminds of the little 2-3 octave keyboards they were first known for in the '70s), but I felt it had the best piano sound(s) available. It's also one of the smallest and lightest with 88 keys.

I'd suggest you carefully pick out the stand you put it on. It is quite wobbly on my folding single X keyboard stand, but that's a stand issue.

In case you're still in the market for a portable piano, we're developing an 88-key (weighted) portable digital piano. Folds in thirds and fits in a travel case. It will be the only 88-key truly portable piano out there. Might be a good fit for your program. More info here: www.groovepiano.com. Thanks.